Wendy Jackson, executive director of the Freshwater Land Trust, examines an American beautyberry, one of the native plants to be planted Nov. 14, 2012 at Tapawingo Springs in Pinson. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

PINSON, Alabama --- Wendy Jackson says men and women who fish make some of the best partners in conservation efforts, including efforts that involve endangered species way too small to bite a hook.

"They understand rivers and streams, and they understand that if a stream is not healthy enough to support small species, like snails and darters, it's not going to be healthy enough to support the game fish, the big fish," said Jackson, executive director of the Freshwater Land Trust.

Today about 35 employees from B.A.S.S. joined Jackson and others from the Freshwater Land Trust to slosh through ankle-deep water to try to improve a valuable habitat for three endangered fish, the vermilion darter, watercress darter and rush darter.

B.A.S.S. employees take a break from working at Tapawingo Springs on Nov. 14, 2012, in Pinson, Alabama. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)Mike Cason | mcason@al.com

Eric Lopez, director of operations for B.A.S.S., said the organization wants to get involved in conservation efforts in the Birmingham area. Ray Scott of Montgomery founded the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society in 1968. B.A.S.S. moved its headquarters to Birmingham in 2011.

"We felt it was very important for us to establish a relationship with an organization such as the Freshwater Land Trust to actually be able to do what we promote, which is the preservation of nature in all forms," Lopez said.

Brian Rushing, director of conservation programs for the Freshwater Land Trust, said today's work was part of an effort to a restore the habitat around Tapawingo Springs to its natural state. Rushing said the Land Trust has purchased at total of about 60 acres around the springs, including an area that was occupied by a trailer park and the former site of a public swimming pool, the Tapawingo Plunge, that was fed by the creek. He said the area is biologically important, partly because it is the habitat for the endangered fish.

"This spring also delivers a lot of clear, clean water to Turkey Creek," Rushing said. Turkey Creek is a tributary of the Locust Fork River, part of the Black Warrior River system.

The Freshwater Land Trust is a non-profit organization based in Birmingham. It works to acquire and conserve land in Jefferson and surrounding counties that is critical to the protection of rivers and streams and for recreational opportunties, according to its website.

Privet was imported from Asia and used as an ornamental hedge but has spread through forests.

"Privet is sort of a constant struggle to keep at bay on our property," Rushing said. "It chokes a lot of native species out and reduces biological diversity."

Jackson said there were "walls of privet" at the springs when work began this morning. But much had been cleared away by the time the crew took a break for lunch.

"I don't know if we can ever eradicate it, but if we can give the native plants a chance to come back, the natives can outcompete it," Jackson said. "That's our goal today, is to get it out of here and give these natives a chance."

As for the importance of the habitat, Jackson said she is often asked why anyone should care about the fates of tiny, endangered fish. She said there are many reasons, such as the fact that small species are indicators of the health of a stream.

"We never know where something fits into the web of life," Jackson said. "And until we know what we're throwing away, wouldn't it be better to keep all the parts?"